Britannian Rights of Citizens

As with all laws passed by this legislature, the king is exempt from following any and all of the following. In his wisdom, he may pass any laws he wishes.

Preamble: We, the Representatives and Members of the High Council, in order to establish justice and safeguard the individual path of virtue for all citizens of Britannia and our posterity, do enumerate the following rights.

Articles of Justice


Article I. Freedom not to be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

No person may be executed, imprisoned, fined, or have his or her property confiscated without adherence to all laws and protocols.


Article II. Right of the accused to have a speedy and public trial.

No person should be forced by the courts or those arresting to endure excessively long waits before trials or stalling tactics during said trials.



Article III. Freedom from self-incrimination.

No person may be forced to testify against one’s self in any court in the land. No person may be forced to testify against one’s husband or wife. No law may be passed to force a person to testify against one’s self. No person through force or threats may force another to testify in such manners.


Article IV. Freedom from double jeopardy.

No person may be tried in a court of law for crimes they have already been tried for and found innocent of. No law may be passed that duplicates another law in hopes of circumventing this.


Article V. Right not to be tried for breaking laws that did not exist prior to the crime being committed.

No person may be put on trial for breaking laws that did not exist at the time when the act was committed. When a person is put on trial, the version of the law that existed prior and up to the crime applies.

Exceptions: In cases where there is no written statute at the time of the crime and only common law precedent, a person may be punished under a law written after the crime, if the law is simply a restating of common law.


Article VI. Right to be informed of which crimes one is accused of.

No person may be put on trial without knowing the nature and cause of the accusations against him or her. The Court will set protocols telling all prosecutors how to present this information to the accused in a fair and timely manner.


Article VII. Right to be confronted with the witnesses against an individual.

No person may be convicted of a crime without having a chance to face and question the witnesses against him or her in a public trial.

Exceptions: In cases where the witness is deceased, a written record of the deceased’s testimony may be entered into the record. In such cases, other evidence must be presented connecting the accused with the crime.


Article VIII. Right to counsel for one’s defense and gather witnesses in one’s favor.

No person may be forced to face a criminal trial without the aid of an advocate for their defense. The accused may hire a defense or be appointed one by the Court system. No person may be convicted of a crime without being allowed to present a case during public trial that attempts to prove their innocence. No person may be convicted of a crime without being allowed to call witnesses to their defense during a public trial.


Article IX. Right to face a law the same legal code as any other.

No civil body may pass laws that target an individual or group. No local legal code many deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.


Article X. Right to be informed of one’s rights following arrest.

During an arrest, the arresting party must inform the criminal of the rights necessary to one’s public defense. This consists of a brief summary of Articles I through X. The wording may be shortened or made clearer.

Exceptions: The arresting person does not need to explain the rights or give legal counsel.


Articles of Honesty


Article XI. Freedom of speech and press.

A. No civil body may pass laws infringing on speech and press. The High Council and High Court may nullify any local law breaking this right.

Exceptions: An exception to this is during times of war and conflict, the High Council may pass laws restricting the exchange of information by speech or press related to national security. Laws may be passed that restrict what information related to their position public officials talk about, but not their opinions. Laws pertaining to slander and libel are permitted, as are laws pertaining to speech inciting others to break the law within reason.

B. No person holding a position, civil or military, may use force, threats, or other methods to silence a person or publishing house. No government act or tax may put a cost on individual speech or press.

Exceptions: Same exceptions as part A. Taxes and tariffs on printed material are allowed as long as they constitute no greater than a quarter fraction of the total cost.


Article XII. Freedom to petition the Britannian civil government for the redress of grievances.

An individual may petition the various branches of Britannian government to consider changing a practice, protocol or law, and an individual bring suit against these branches with good reason.

Exceptions: Petitions to the various branches of Britannian government will be listened to, but may not be acted on. These petitions may only be allowed in written form due to time constraints or security issues. Suits brought against Britannia may be thrown out by the court system on valid grounds. The High Council and several other civil bodies have immunity from certain suits. The High Council, as a body, or local governmental groups may or may not issue a response to any petition.


Articles of Humility


Article XIII. Freedom of privacy and protection from illegal searches and seizures.

A. No person holding office, civil or military, may invade the private life and abode of another. No person may trespass on the property of another.

Exceptions: Criminal cases and investigations by a sanctioned party with a search warrant or a member of the Royal Guard with due cause.

B. No person may lay claim to the property of another.

Exceptions: Same as part A.


Articles of Compassion

Article XIV. Right not to face excessively cruel punishments.

No person may be forced to undergo punishments that are excessively cruel. Punishments must fit the degree of the crime’s seriousness. All executions must be cared out in a quick fashion.


Articles of Honor


Article XV. Right to avoid military and civil use of one’s property.

In time of peace, a person may refuse room and board to any soldier or civil representative when asked without fear of punishment. In times of war, soldiers may be quartered in a house only in ways described in law. Private property may not be taken for public use without fair compensation.


Article XVI. Right of those born in Britannia or naturalized by the High Council’s laws to citizenship.


All people born or naturalized in Britannia are citizens of Britannia and of the city or town where they reside. No local government may make laws abridging the rights and privileges of those recognized as citizens of Britannia. The process of naturalizing foreign nationals will be set by the High Council; such decisions are to be accepted as binding by local governments. Only citizens publicly renouncing their citizenship may have these rights and privileges removed. No citizen’s rights may be denied or abridged by reason of failure to pay taxes.


Articles of Valor


Article XVII. Freedom to own weapons and be armed.

No civil body may pass laws infringing on freedom to keep weapons and to be armed with said weapons in most public places. No civil body may pass laws infringing on the right to form local militias.

Exceptions: The civil bodies may pass laws on the proper use of said weapons that will insure the life and limb of all individuals. While a citizen has the right to own a sword or a spear, no citizen has the right to use such weapons against an innocent. Local militias may be formed, but they are not guaranteed any local position or power. Laws may be passed against armed people entering government buildings and functions, or from concealing such weapons in other public places. This right may be suspended during times of war or civil unrest.


Articles of Sacrifice


Article XVIII. Freedom from slavery and involuntary servitude.

No person may be owned by another, nor be held in involuntary service to another by force or by law. Slavery may not exist in Britannia or any place subject to its jurisdiction. Labor performed by convicted criminals as punishment for a crime is not considered involuntary servitude under Britannian law.

Articles of Spirituality


Article XIX. Freedom of assembly and religion.


A. No civil body may pass laws infringing on freedom of assembly for secular and religious reasons, nor may any person holding a civilian or military position use force, threats, or other methods to infringe on this freedom.

Exceptions: While civil bodies may not pass laws against people gathering, they may pass laws against any illegal actions done at such gatherings.

B. No civil body may pass laws infringing on the religious beliefs and practices of any person.

Exceptions: Laws may be passed against religious practices that violate the rights and person of another individual.

Article XX. Freedom to drink intoxicating liquors and alcohol.

No civil body may pass laws infringing on the right to drink or purchase alcohol.

Exceptions: Laws may be passed that disallow certain activities while drunk in cases where such actions would endanger others. Those who are intoxicated are still responsible to obey all laws and may not escape criminal prosecution for laws committed in this state.

Articles of Chaos

Article XXI. Powers not delegated to the cities or the High Council, nor prohibited by the law or by the king, are reserved to the citizens of Britannia within reason.

Exception: As new activities arise that have dire consequences to king, country, and the public good, the High Council and local governments may pass laws restricting or prohibiting these activities.

Wouldn't it be easier to just say "Be excellent to each other"?

Not for lawyers.

I'm glad elves don't have lawyers.